Is Prayer a Weapon?
Matt. 6:1-6,16-18
Do you pray before meals in public spaces?
Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. - Matt. 6:1-6,16-18
Have you ever gone to a fancy restaurant and noticed someone praying before eating their meal?
Did they do it quietly or aloud? Were they alone or with others?
Did you know that some people may be offended by that? It is rare, I know, but I suspect it will become more of an issue in the coming days.
Christians are coming out of the closet in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. What they used to do quietly in private, they are starting to do openly in public, calling attention to themselves.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
When Jesus warned about showing one’s piety in public, it was to point out hypocrisy, but it could also be a way to ensure they would not be made a target.
In the early days of the faith, after Jesus’s resurrection and ascension, his followers were being hunted.
As a child, learning about these things and reading about the martyrs who were persecuted for their beliefs, I truly believed we were beyond that.
But here we are, a half-century later, and the world is a very different place.
Many believe we can go back to the way it was before, but what way was that? We pride ourselves on being a nation of tolerance, and yet we feel threatened by the outward display of one’s beliefs, especially if it is by a large crowd.
Are we weaponizing our faith when we go out in public, drawing attention to ourselves while expressing our faith?
If we say we are not, then why do we think that is what others are doing when they assemble and pray in public?
Jesus had a good idea when he said that we should keep our displays of faith between you and the Father. Look how much anxiety we could avoid.
More to come...